Fernando Amorebieta

Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras is a central defender playing for Fulham and the national team of Venezuela.

He started his career in Athletic’s youth system when he was only 11. Having passed through all the youth teams he started to play for Baskonia (Athletic’s farm-club). He spent 26 matches for this team scoring once. Then he was transferred to the reserve team of Athletic for a season where he made 24 appearances and scored one goal.

Fernando started the following season in the main squad spending the first game in July of 2005. The whole season of 2005/06 was a success for the young defender as he appeared in 27 games of the championship. Regardless of the club’s failures in the pre-season the player extended the relationships with the Basque club penning a new 4-year deal.

The championship of 2008/09 was a disaster both for Fernando and his team. He was sent off the field twice, scored an own goal and the team themselves suffered series of defeats. After a miraculous survival in the top flight Fernando signed another contract extension till 2013. The start of the following season wasn’t a walkover either as he was sent off the field again. All in all he played 29 games helping his team to their eventual 13th position. However Athletic succeeded in the Copa del Rey where they reached finals thus going through to the Europa League.

Throughout his career both ups and downs can be observed. He gets red cards 7 seasons in a row. However the player reached the Europa League final with his team beating Manchester United on their way. Many big clubs unsuccessfully tried to purchase the Venezuelan offering huge sums of money to Athletic Bilbao and Fulham managed to grab the back in May 2013.